Roth IRA Calculator
Project your Roth IRA balance at retirement, see the tax-free advantage over a Traditional IRA, and find out how much you can contribute in 2026.
2026 Roth IRA Limits
- Contribution Limit
- $7,000
- Catch-Up (50+)
- $8,000
- Phase-Out Starts (Single)
- $150,000
- Phase-Out Starts (MFJ)
- $236,000
- No RMD Required
- ✓
- Tax on Withdrawals
- $0
Roth IRA Details
Your contribution & growth projection
YOUR INFORMATION
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
Contributing $7,000/year (max)
GROWTH & TAX ASSUMPTIONS
Roth IRA Balance at Retirement
$1,127,807
At age 65 · 35 years of tax-free growth · 7.0% annual return
💎 100% Tax-Free — Pay $0 tax in retirement!- Total Contributed
- $260,000
- Tax-Free Growth
- $867,807
- Monthly Income (4%)
- $3,759
- Growth Multiple
- 4.34×
✅ Tax-Free Advantage Over Traditional IRA
$1,540/yr
Tax Paid Upfront
$169,171
Tax Saved at Withdrawal
$169,171
Roth Net Advantage
Your current tax rate is HIGHER than your retirement tax rate — a Traditional IRA may actually give more after-tax wealth in your specific case.
⚖️ Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA Comparison
| Feature | ● Roth IRA | ● Traditional IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on Contributions | After-tax (no deduction) | Pre-tax (deductible) |
| Balance at Retirement | $1,127,807 | $1,127,807 |
| Tax at Withdrawal | $0 | $169,171 |
| After-Tax Value | $1,127,807 | $958,636 |
| Required Minimum Dist. | None ✓ | Required at age 73 |
| Early Withdrawal (contrib.) | Anytime, penalty-free | 10% penalty + tax |
| Tax on Inheritance | Tax-free | Fully taxable |
📈 Roth IRA Growth: Contributions vs Tax-Free Earnings
📅 Year-by-Year Roth IRA Schedule
| Age | Contribution | Growth | Year-End Balance | Tax if Trad. IRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | $7,000 | $1,050 | $23,050 | $3,458 |
| 32 | $7,000 | $1,614 | $31,664 | $4,750 |
| 33 | $7,000 | $2,216 | $40,880 | $6,132 |
| 34 | $7,000 | $2,862 | $50,742 | $7,611 |
| 35 | $7,000 | $3,552 | $61,293 | $9,194 |
| 36 | $7,000 | $4,291 | $72,584 | $10,888 |
| 37 | $7,000 | $5,081 | $84,665 | $12,700 |
| 38 | $7,000 | $5,927 | $97,591 | $14,639 |
| 39 | $7,000 | $6,831 | $111,423 | $16,713 |
| 40 | $7,000 | $7,800 | $126,222 | $18,933 |
| 41 | $7,000 | $8,836 | $142,058 | $21,309 |
| 42 | $7,000 | $9,944 | $159,002 | $23,850 |
| 43 | $7,000 | $11,130 | $177,132 | $26,570 |
| 44 | $7,000 | $12,399 | $196,531 | $29,480 |
| 45 | $7,000 | $13,757 | $217,289 | $32,593 |
| 46 | $7,000 | $15,210 | $239,499 | $35,925 |
| 47 | $7,000 | $16,765 | $263,264 | $39,490 |
| 48 | $7,000 | $18,428 | $288,692 | $43,304 |
| 49 | $7,000 | $20,208 | $315,901 | $47,385 |
| 50 | $7,000 | $22,113 | $345,014 | $51,752 |
| 51 | $7,000 | $24,151 | $376,165 | $56,425 |
| 52 | $7,000 | $26,332 | $409,496 | $61,424 |
| 53 | $7,000 | $28,665 | $445,161 | $66,774 |
| 54 | $7,000 | $31,161 | $483,322 | $72,498 |
| 55 | $7,000 | $33,833 | $524,155 | $78,623 |
| 56 | $7,000 | $36,691 | $567,846 | $85,177 |
| 57 | $7,000 | $39,749 | $614,595 | $92,189 |
| 58 | $7,000 | $43,022 | $664,616 | $99,692 |
| 59 | $7,000 | $46,523 | $718,140 | $107,721 |
| 60 | $7,000 | $50,270 | $775,409 | $116,311 |
| 61 | $7,000 | $54,279 | $836,688 | $125,503 |
| 62 | $7,000 | $58,568 | $902,256 | $135,338 |
| 63 | $7,000 | $63,158 | $972,414 | $145,862 |
| 64 | $7,000 | $68,069 | $1,047,483 | $157,122 |
| 65 | $7,000 | $73,324 | $1,127,807 | $169,171 |
Why the Roth IRA Is the Most Powerful Retirement Account
A Roth IRA lets your money grow completely tax-free — you pay tax on contributions now and never pay tax on growth or qualified withdrawals in retirement. Our Roth IRA calculator projects your balance at retirement, shows the total tax-free advantage over a Traditional IRA, and walks through a year-by-year growth schedule. For the pre-tax side of the comparison, see our Traditional IRA calculator, 401(k) calculator, and retirement calculator.
✨ Roth IRA Key Benefits
- Tax-free growth: all earnings grow 100% tax-free
- Tax-free withdrawals: no tax in retirement — ever
- No RMDs: no forced withdrawals at 73 (unlike Traditional)
- Withdraw contributions anytime: penalty-free
- Estate planning: tax-free inheritance for beneficiaries
- Flexible: no deduction now, but no tax owed later either
🤔 Roth vs Traditional IRA: Choose Wisely
- Choose Roth if: you expect higher taxes in retirement than now
- Choose Traditional if: you're in a high bracket now, lower later
- Age 20s-30s: Roth almost always wins — decades of compounding
- Age 50s+: Traditional may be better if income is at its peak
- Best strategy: contribute to both for tax diversification
- If tax rates are equal, Roth and Traditional produce identical after-tax results mathematically
📋 2026 Contribution & Income Limits
- Under age 50: $7,000/year maximum
- Age 50+ (catch-up): $8,000/year maximum
- Single filer phase-out: $150,000 – $165,000 MAGI
- Married filing jointly phase-out: $236,000 – $246,000 MAGI
- Over the limit? A “backdoor Roth conversion” may still work
- Must have earned income at least equal to the contribution amount
🔄 Roth Conversion Strategy
- Convert Traditional IRA funds to Roth to lock in today's tax rates
- Pay income tax now on the converted amount
- All future growth and withdrawals are then tax-free
- Best in low-income years (job change, early retirement)
- Convert up to the top of your current bracket to avoid bumping up
- The 5-year rule applies separately to each conversion
— FAQ